West Sumbawa, 23 April 2024 – Mining, a strategic industry making significant contributions to the economy, is often under scrutiny regarding its long-term environmental impact. To address this issue, mining companies compete to innovate and demonstrate a serious commitment to sustainable operational practices and returning the affected areas to their original condition. At the forefront of these efforts is PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (“AMMAN”), one of the largest copper-and-gold-mining companies in Indonesia, which conducts reclamation activities concurrently with mining operations.
AMMAN has adopted cutting-edge technology, such as satellite imagery and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), to monitor reclamation progress. From the UAV imagery analysis, AMMAN utilizes the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to assess greenness levels, plant cover, and biomass/carbon absorption values, especially in reclamation areas.
NDVI is a remote sensing method that uses the ratio of red light and NIR (Near-Infrared Radiation) from satellite images or aerial photographs to measure the density or health of vegetation in a specific area. NDVI values range from -1 to 1, where positive NDVI values indicate vegetated areas, negative NDVI values indicate non-vegetated areas and NDVI values close to 0 indicate areas with sparse vegetation density.
AMMAN Vice President of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Kartika Octaviana, explained that NDVI analysis allows the reclamation program to be more precise and effective. “We analyze satellite imagery regularly to monitor vegetation growth in reclamation areas. This NDVI data also helps us determine suitable plant species to cultivate. Thanks to NDVI analysis, AMMAN has transformed former mining areas into lush green landscapes, with the NDVI values of reclamation areas approaching +1, the NDVI values of natural forests, indicating a high density of green leaves,” said Kartika.
The head of the NTB Provincial Department of Environment and Forestry also recognized AMMAN’s innovation in using the latest technology in the reclamation process.
“AMMAN’s achievements in mine reclamation make it a pioneer in applying NDVI for environmental conservation. AMMAN’s commitment to maintaining the balance of nature should be appreciated and become an example for other mining companies,” said Julmansyah, Head of NTB Provincial Department of Environment and Forestry.
AMMAN’s reclamation initiatives provide practical and aesthetic benefits. AMMAN reclamation improves air and water quality, creates habitats for flora and fauna, and prevents erosion and sedimentation. These improvements in the local ecosystem comply with the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Decree 1827 K/30/MEM/2018 on Guidelines for the Implementation of Good Mining Practice and also a circular letter from ESDM about the Spatial Database Reclamation and Post-Mining.
In addition, AMMAN’s reclamation program also provides both economic and social benefits to local communities. A thriving natural forest increases the market value of adjacent land, supports eco-tourism development, and creates job opportunities by providing seedlings and materials like palm fibers, coconet, and polybags for revegetation programs. As the reclamation area grows, so do the economic opportunities for communities around the mining area.
“AMMAN prioritizes sustainable principles in all mining operations as an essential part of our business strategy. We have demonstrated that utilizing natural resources can go hand in hand with environmental conservation. Land reclamation is a key component of our vision to create a legacy of best for future generations,” concluded Kartika.
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